Bill would commercialize California rest stops

Roadside community group says existing businesses would suffer

Motorist Sandra Jeddeloh takes her cat Tara for a walk at the dog run area of the Aliso Creek Rest Area along southbound Interstate 5 on Camp Pendleton. Legislation would bring commercial enterprises to some rest stops.
— Charlie Neuman

Motorist Sandra Jeddeloh takes her cat Tara for a walk at the dog run area of the Aliso Creek Rest Area along southbound Interstate 5 on Camp Pendleton. Legislation would bring commercial enterprises to some rest stops.
— Charlie Neuman

But the rest stop of the future could reel-in more motorists for longer breaks by offering amenities like made-to-order lattes, sandwiches and even windshield wipers.

That’s the goal of Assemblyman Ben Hueso and San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce officials who have come together to promote legislation that would permit Caltrans to commercialize about 25 rest stops from Oceanside to Redding.

“This is a good opportunity to do a number of things,” said Hueso, D-San Diego.

Among those things: provide cleaner and safer facilities, infuse cash into state coffers and encourage long-distance drivers to take time out from behind the wheel.

But one group says the change could hurt existing roadside communities and businesses.

The measure leaves it up to Caltrans to determine which rest stops and how many — questions that could not be answered until contractors step forward, Hueso explained.

Making rest stops more than just pit stops will be a challenge, however.

First and foremost there is a 1956 federal law prohibits commercialized rest stops on Interstate highways, such as Interstate 5. However, selected so-called “travel centers” and “welcome centers” in some eastern states do not fall under the federal restrictions. That’s because those locations along turnpikes and toll roads were there before the law was in place.

The latest bid to repeal the ban failed just two weeks ago when the state of Ohio pushed for an amendment in the omnibus transportation bill. The U.S. Senate rejected the bid 86-12 — a signal to California that its moves could meet a similar fate.

Paul Webster, vice president of public policy for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, does not see the measure as a threat to existing businesses.

“We want to make sure this isn’t an opportunity to steal away something from a business that has been serving the community,” Webster said. “We’re hoping this is an opportunity to expand the pie.”

But the nationwide Partnership to Save Highway Communities, which represents a number of businesses along freeway exits, is not convinced.

“This is one of those proposals that at first blush seems like a good idea,” said Lisa Mullings, its president. “But it creates a whole lot of other problems.”

“We could put thousands of people out of work. That’s not even a close call to me,” she said, Roadside businesses employ an estimated 188,400 workers in California and pump millions into city and county coffers, according to the partnership.

Mullings said the state has other routes. It can open rest stops to sponsorships or create an “oasis” program that designates certain businesses at exits as state-sanctioned spots to use the restroom or take a nap without having to buy anything.